Aston Martin Showcases Vantage GT3 Limited Edition

With the Vantage now entering its 11th year of production, it is clearly way overdue for a major overhaul. Before the Vantage goes under the knife in the near future, Aston Martin has taken the wraps off of perhaps the most track-capable version that has ever been produced: the Vantage GT3 Special Edition.

Based on the already potent V12 Vantage S, Aston Martin engineers put the car on a crash diet, thanks to wider use of carbon fiber throughout its construction, which helps cleave 220 lbs of excess fat from the Vantage's elegant lines, a welcomed move considering the standard issue Vantage is among the heavier entries in the sports car market. Handling behavior has also been tweaked, thanks to a slightly lower ride height,as well as a much wider track which makes the GT3 wider than any other model in the Vantage family. The company claims that the increase in width will help hone its cornering dynamics by reducing the amount of lateral load transfer that takes place between the super sticky Michelin Pilot Sport Cup tires and the road.

In addition to the changes in its performance hardware, Aston designers also have added several styling tweaks that help the GT3 stand out from lesser Vantages. A revamped front splitter works together with a prominent rear wing to help improve downforce, especially in high speed cornering. While the car featured in Aston's press images features the comapny's love it or hate it "lipstick" for the front grille, we are big fans of the revamped hood which shelves the standard V12 S array of hood vents in lieu of a more aerodynamic (and aesthetically pleasing) vent arrangement.

Performance for the GT3 comes from a modified version of the company's familiar 6.0-liter V12 which is now good for a healthy 592 horsepower (a gain of 29 over the 565 ponies in the "base" V12 S model). While the company did not release official performance figures or the engine's torque rating, expect the extra muscle to play a role in lowering the GT3's 0 to 60 time as well as an increase in its top speed.

"The Vantage is the car we campaign in top level sports car racing around the world and so it seems fitting that we offer an exclusive limited edition Vantage that expertly fuses our motorsport know how with our road car prowess" stated Aston Martin CEO Andy Palmer. It is currently unknown if the GT3 will make an apperance in the U.S. market but look for more details to be formally unveiled closer to the car's official debut in March at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show.